Hat construction



Nov. 20, 1934. K, REYNOLDS 1,981,286

HAT. CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8, 1952 INVENTOR Real 5 K. e rzoZzZs gi ATT RNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1934 HAT CONSTRUCTION Ralph K. Reynolds, Danbury, Conn, a'ssignor to The Mallory Hat Company, Danbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application July 8, .1932, Serial No. 621,328

'8 Claims. (Cl. 2-190) This invention relates to hat construction, and with regard to its more specific features, to a protective device for the interior of a hat.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a protective construction for hats which will be strong, practical and of simple construction. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which may be easily manufactured at a minimum cost. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will present a pleasing and attractive appearance. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will protect the interior of the hat from dirt or other foreign matter, while permitting the exposure of the top part of the. hat for purposes of marking, stamping, or the like. Anotherobjectis to provide a construction of theabove character which, while offering the advantages and conveniences of a hat lining, is also sufiiciently openjto permit thorough ventilation of the head of the wearer while in use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which is well suited for use in felt hats for summer wear. Other objects will'be'in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which 1 is shown one of thevarious possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a hat, showing certain of the partsof the preferred embodiment of my invention as installed therein;

Figure 2 is'a perspectiveviewof the preferred embodiment of my invention ready-for installation in a hat; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the reverse side of the parts shown inFigure 2;

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the-draw- As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of vthisinvention, it-might be pointed'out here that for many practical reasons, such'as protection and attractive-appearance, it often becomes highly desirable to have a lining in ahat. Many times the hat body comes in contact with the head of the wearer and in hot weather perspiration from the head 1 of the wearer maybe thus transferredto the-hat body'where it may serve to discolor and soil the hat. Also, a hat-lining, serves-to. enhance the appearance of the interior of a hat. However, the use of a lining, especially in summer hats, is disadvantageous because it serves to out off circulation of air within the interior of the hat, thereby increasing the discomfort of the wearer. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to stamp the felt in the interior of the hat with certain indicia, such as, for example, the trade-name of themanufacturer, and, when a complete lining is used for this purpose, such indicia are excluded from view. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a construction and device in which the several difficulties hereinabove referred to are successfully and efiiciently overcome.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Figure l, a hat generally indicated at 10, preferably formed from felt and having. a brim l1 and crown portion 12. Secured to the interior of the hat body substantially at the junction between crown portion 12 and brim 11, by stitches generally indicated at 13,.is a sweatband 14. Sweatband 14. is preferably formed from a strip of leather or like material having its opposite ends secured together by stitches 15. Extending above sweatband 14 is a band generally indicated at 16, the exact nature of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

As more clearly shown in Figure 2, band 16 includes a strip 17 preferably formed from a textile material, as, for example, a cotton-backed satin. Preferably the top edge of strip 17,;as viewed in Figure 2, is folded outwardly upon itself and'extending .therethrough is a lineof stitches 19 to form a hem 18. The opposite ends ofstrip'l'l are folded backwardly upon themselves and are connected by a line of heavy stitches 20qso that the free end portions 21 and 22 lie flush against the outer surface of the strip, as viewed in Figure 2. Furthermore, when connected, strip 1'? has a smaller diameter at the top .thereof, asviewed in Figure 2, than-Jat the bottom, thus'forming a frustocone.

Asmore clearly shown in Figure 3, a piece of material 24 as, for example, buckram, and having greater rigidity than strip1'7, is-secured to the innerside of strip 1'7, as viewed in Figure 2,.by a line of stitches 23. The bottom edge'25 of ma terial 24, as viewed in Figure 2, extends below the bottom edge 26 of strip 17 and the opposite end portions 27 and 28 are. folded backwardly upon themselves in a manner similar to end portions 21 and 22 and in substantial registry therewith. Accordingly, line of stitches 20 (Figure 2) also extends downwardly over material 24 to connect the opposing ends of material 24. In this manner, I have constructed a band 16 comprising a flexible satin-like strip 17 formed-into a frusto cone secured to a rigid or stiff piece of material 24 forming'a firm foundation therefor. Furthermore,. thesatin or smooth side ofstripnl'l, faces the interior of band 16, as viewed in Figure 2.

Band 16, as shown in Figure 2, is ready for installation in a hat and, assuming that no band is in place within the hat shown in Figure 1, band 16 may be placed in the top of crown portion 12 so that material 24 is nearest to line of stitches 13 (Figure. 1) Preferably, line of stitches 2 0 (Figure 2) is placed in alignment with'line of stitches 15 (Figure 1).

tion 12 until the bottom edge 25 of material 24 lies substantially adjacent line of stitches 13. When in this position, the top edge of band 16 is spaced from the top of crown portion 12 so that any suitable indicia 29 stamped or otherwise formed on this surface of the felt is easily visible;

Due to the rigid or stiff character of material 24 adjacent stitches 13, band 16 maintains sub- 'stantially the same position within the interior of hat 10 and will not become disarranged after the hat has been used for a'great length of time. Material 24, although being of a rigid or stiff character, is nevertheless loosely woven or porous and thus not easily affected by moisture or the like which may leak through the connection formed by stitches 13. Nevertheless, even though subject to such moisture, it continues to maintain its shape and thus act as a firm foundation for strip 1'7. Band 16, while serving to protect the crown portion of the hat from the head of the wearer, does not seal the whole of the crown portion so that heat may pass with greater ease therethrough to afford greater cooling and comfort. inasmuch as the top portion of the crown is left exposed, it is not necessary to stamp any names upon band 16 and the special advantages accruing from a stamp in the felt itself are retained, to-

gether'with the advantages of a lining.

' It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical, efficient and economical construction in which the several objects hereinabove referred to are successfully accomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying. drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense..

I claim:

1. Inhat construction, in combination, a hat body, a sweatband stitched to the band portion thereof, a strip of satin-like material having its opposite ends connected to form a ring-like member, and a piece of material secured to said strip and extending below one edge thereof, said piece of material having greater rigidity than said strip, sai'd strip disposed between said sweatband and said hat body so that said material lies adjacent the connection between said sweatband and said hat body and so that the upper edge of said strip is'spaced from thetop of said hat body.

2. In hat construction, in combination, a hat body, a sweatband stitched to said hat body, a frusto-conical strip of satin-like material, and a piece of buckram stitched to said strip and extending below one edge thereof, said strip being positioned between said hat body and said sweatband so that the lower edge of said buckram lies substantially adjacent the stitches connecting said sweatband to said hat body and so that the the upper edge of said strip is spaced from the top of said hat body. 7

3. In hat construction, in combination, a hat, a sweatband for said hat, a strip of textile ma- Next, band 16 is tucked" or forced between sweatband l4 and crown porterial having itsopposite ends connected to form a frusto cone, and a piece of material stitched to said strip/and having its lower edge extending below the lower edge of said strip, said piece of material having greater rigidity than said strip, said strip being disposed between said sweatband and hat body of said hat.

4. As an article of manufacture, a strip of satin-like material having its opposite ends stitched together to form a frusto cone, and a piece of buckram stitched to said strip and having one edge extending below one edge of said strip, said strip adapted to be disposed between a sweatband and hat body of a hat so that the lower edge of said buckram lies substantially adlacent the connection between said sweatband and said hatbody andso that the upper edge of said strip is spaced from the top of said hat body. I

5. As .an article of manufacture, a strip of satin-like material having its end portions con nected together to form a frusto cone, one edge of said strip being hemmed, and a piece of material stitched to said strip and having its lower edge extending below the lower edge of said strip, said piece of material having greater rigidity than said strip, said strip adapted to be disposed between the sweatband and hat body of a hat so that said hemmed edge is spaced from the top of said hat body.

6. In hat construction, in combination, a felt hat body, indicia superimposed on the top of the inner side of said'hat body, a sweatband secured to said hatbody, and a piece of textile material'frusto-conical in shape having a rel-, atively stiff portion disposed between said sweat band and said hat body and a relatively flexible portion extending thereabove to a point spaced from the top of said hat body to leave said indicia exposed to view, said piece being unconnected with said sweatband or said hat body.

7. In hat construction, in combination, a hat, a sweatband for said hat, a partial hat lining including astrip of material having its-opposite ends secured together, and a second strip of material more rigid in character than said firstmentioned strip of material secured to said firstmentioned strip of material and extending below the' lower edge thereof, said lining being disposed between said sweatband and crown portion of the body of said hat so that the upper 'portion of said crown portion is left exposed to view and whereby said second strip lies substantially adjacent the connection between said sweatband and said hat body. I

8. In hat construction, in combination, 'ajfelt hat body, indicia stamped inthe felt of the top of the inner side of said hat body, a sweatband secured to said hat body, a strip of textile material having its opposite ends connected to. form substantially a frusto cone, and a second strip of material connected to said last-mentioned strip so that it exten'dsbelow the edge of said firstmentioned strip having the greatest diameter, saidlast-mentioned edge of said first-mentioned strip and said second-mentioned strip being disposed between said sweatband and said hat body so that the'lower edge of said second-mentioned between sweatband and said'hat body.

RALPH REYNOLDS. 

